Scrappage scheme could give diesel owners £2,000 towards a clean car

There are more than 11 million diesel cars on British roadsJOE GIDDENS/PA

Plans for a scrappage scheme that targets the oldest diesel cars and the most polluted areas are being drawn up for consideration by ministers.

They are expected to be included in the government’s proposals to tackle air pollution that will be published this week, but will probably stop short of being introduced nationwide.

Ministers have decided that a universal scheme would be too expensive and likely to benefit only pensioners in rural areas who rarely drive their diesel cars, thereby making it unlikely to reduce pollution significantly in the worst- affected cities.

The government is said to be discussing the introduction of payments of between £1,000 and £2,000 for the oldest diesel cars that drivers agree to scrap in exchange for buying new, lower-emission vehicles.…